Doing the Simple Things to Make A Better Tomorrow

Raul Garcia III

Third Sunday After Easter
May 5, 2019

Let us Pray:

Pues, aceptables ante ti mis palabras y mis pensamientos,oh Señor, roca mía y redentor mío.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing to you my Lord my rock and redeemer.

Amen.

In the gospel reading Simon Peter was probably so bored or going stir crazy being with each other. So, Simon Peter says,

“You know I’m going fishing. I need to get some fresh air. I need to do something else.” So the other disciples said okay we’ll go

with you. They go out all night and catch nothing. Imagine that.

Some of these disciples were probably crushed because they were probably going to head back to the family business

which was probably fishing and they caught zero fish. Till in the distance they hear someone say, “Have you caught any fish?”

Throw your net on the other side of the boat and you will catch some. And they did.

There net was full and they were in wonder again.

Simon was so excited he jumped out of the boat to swim to the Jesus instead of waiting.  Why would Peter do that?

Jesus loved Peter. It says there in the gospel lesson. Jesus had built a fire on the shore and was having fish and bread

and told Peter bring some of those fish you caught so we can eat together.

In the gospel story it says they caught 153 fish. That’s a pretty good exact number of fish.

Why 153? What’s the significance of this number.

I have no idea. I researched that and looked in texts books, online and everywhere and there were these big reasons why

the number was 153. There was one reason I saw over and over in different texts and books which was that Jerome or

St. Jerome said that at that time there were 153 different kinds of fish species in the Sea of Galilee at that time.

It goes to show the abundance Jesus gives us.

The over abundance of what we ask for and what he gives us. Love, Grace, hope and mercy.

Think about this now. They are sitting on the shore with Jesus but they don’t want to say anything because they know who it was.

This was the third time that Jesus showed himself to the disciples.

This is where it gets interesting. Jesus is sitting with some of the disciples and with Simon Peter.

Jesus asks Peter do you love me?

Peter says yes lord, you know that I love you.
Jesus says, Feed my lambs.

Jesus asks him again, Peter do you love me?

Peter says again, Yes, Lord you know that I love you.

Jesus says, Take care of my sheep.

Guess what Jesus asks Peter again? Simon, son of John, do you love me?

Peter says, Lord you know all things, you know that I love you.

Feed my sheep.

Imagine being Peter and wondering why is Jesus asking me why I loved him. Is Jesus doubting my love for Him?

But then at that moment when he said that he probably remembered what Jesus told him before Jesus was turned

over to authorities. Jesus told Peter that he will deny Jesus three times before the cock crows three times.

And Peter did. Denied Jesus three times.

So here is Jesus asking Peter three times, Do you love me?

Jesus believes Peter and uses Peter to be the cornerstone of the church. Jesus tells Peter follow me.

If Jesus can use Peter who broke down and denied Jesus three times and yet

Jesus has more than enough faith, hope, love and mercy to still use Peter.

Jesus can still use us. We sometimes make excuses why we can’t help or why we cannot be involved or whatever it may be.

The Parable of the Starfish…
One day, an old man was walking along a beach that was littered with thousands of starfish that had been washed ashore

by the high tide. As he walked he came upon a young boy who was eagerly throwing the starfish back into the ocean,

one by one.

Puzzled, the man looked at the boy and asked what he was doing. Without looking up from his task, the boy simply

replied, “I’m saving these starfish, Sir”.

The old man chuckled aloud, “Son, there are thousands of starfish and only one of you. What difference can you make?”

The boy picked up a starfish, gently tossed it into the water and turning to the man, said, “I made a difference to that one!”

Jesus used all the disciples who were all a little off or goofy to help spread his love and mercy.

We sometimes look at our sinful self and say we are not enough. Let me tell y’all. We are Easter people.

We look forward to seeing the risen Christ. To celebrate and show God’s mercy, hope, and love.

What are you waiting for?

Just doing the simple things so that we can have a better tomorrow. Be abundant as Jesus is abundant with us.

Don’t go and be just a disciple but also go and be yourself.

We want to know.

What is going to be your faith story?

Amen.